Burned body is identified as missing Pearland man

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A burned body found in a shallow grave 20 miles south of San Antonio is that of Kenneth Cummings Jr., a Southwest Airlines flight attendant last seen alive on June 4.

The positive identification was made by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's office using dental records, Pearland police said today.

Police found blood in Cummings' Pearland home.

Terry Mark Mangum, 26, of Cypress, was charged with killing Cummings after the two men were seen together in Houston clubs. He remains in the Brazoria County Detention Center on $500,000. He is also charged with fraudulent use of identity information and tampering with physical evidence.

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When police searched Mangum's home, they found muddy shoes and a shovel.

Police said Mangum has not admitted to them that he killed Cummings, but has told a third party about the killing.

Police have not said what they think the motive was.

"We are sure this is a very traumatic situation, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cummings family," said Pearland police spokesman Roy Castillo. "One of the best ways to help them is to speak for Kenneth by building and presenting the best case possible to our district attorney's office so they can do their best and prosecuting his accused killer."

Detective Jon Matherne said, "the important thing now is that Kenneth is brought back home to his family."

Members of Texas EquuSearch found the remains late Thursday on land owned by Mangum's grandfather. The search organization had looked for Cummings in Pearland, in two areas around Houston and then moved the search to Atascosa County after learning Mangum had visited his grandfather.